MCS Staff, Author at The MoCo Show

Gov. Hogan Announces Hiring of Netta Squires, Former MoCo Emergency Management Specialist, As Director of Local Cybersecurity

Published October 5, 2022 at 10:27AM

Governor Larry Hogan announced that the State of Maryland has hired Netta Squires, Esq. as the Director of Local Cybersecurity. The position was created as part of an overarching cybersecurity legislative package passed early this year. Squires will work at the Department of Information Technology and report to the State Chief Information Security Officer.

Netta Squires, Esq. has over 14 years of experience in emergency management and incident response as well as almost 8 years of specific experience in cybersecurity. She previously worked as an Emergency Management Specialist for the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security where she managed multiple projects and teams in various emergency support functions. Ms. Squires has her Juris Doctorate from George Washington Law School and a Masters of Science in Law in Cybersecurity from UMB School of Law. She is also a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) by the International Association of Emergency Managers.

Events

The Poolesville Ghost Tour 2022, Presented by Historic Deadly District

By MCS Staff

Published October 5, 2022 at 9:43AM

Professor and folklore enthusiast Christine Rai will lead a hair-raising outdoor walking tour through the center of Poolesville, and tell the tales of dark histories and chilling hauntings associated with some of our oldest historic buildings. This walking ghost tour throughout Downtown Poolesville will take participants for an approximate 1 mile walk, standing for the duration of the tour.

Early tours (6:00 – 7:00 pm) are family-friendly, and end back at the John Poole House, where a bonfire and hot cider will be waiting. Later tours (8:00 – 9:15 pm) are even spookier and also end with a bonfire and cider at the John Poole House. These tours are for adults and children ages 15 and up. Tickets must be purchased in advance and go for $10 for children 5-11 and $20 for adults (children under 5 are free). The ghost tours have sold out in the past, so make sure to get a ticket while you can! Space is limited. All ticket sales support the preservation efforts and educational programs of Historic Medley District.

MoCo History

History of the Town of Barnesville, Which Recently Celebrated its 275th Anniversary

By MCS Staff

Published October 5, 2022 at 9:22AM

The Town of Barnesville recently celebrated its 275th anniversary on October 2nd with a celebration that was to originally include a morning fun run and afternoon parade, but cancelled all planned outdoor activities. The celebration, however, continued indoors with a Barnesville history exhibit and pot luck dinner. Located at the top of a ridge with views of Sugarloaf Mountain to the north and the Catoctin Mountain and Blue Ridge ranges to the west, Barnesville enjoys a connection with the rhythms of the natural world while being within commuting distance of the nation’s capital. Barnesville is served by the MARC commuter rail system. The town’s motto, “A Caring Community,” is a testament to the sense of place enjoyed by the town’s residents and their neighbors in the Agricultural Reserve of Western Montgomery County.

History, Per the Town of Barnesville: At the heart of the Agricultural Reserve and within commuting distance of Washington, D.C., the Town of Barnesville lies today on land first surveyed for Jeremiah Hays in 1749. After taking the Patriots Oath of Fidelity in 1778, Hayes served in the Revolutionary Army Militia before his death in 1783. What is now Barnesville was first known as Barnestown after James Barnes, who bought the land known as “Jeremiah’s Park” in 1803 from Vachel and Margaret Hall. His father, David Barnes, who was a younger son from a prominent English family, emigrated to the United States in 1758 and settled in Frederick, Maryland along with his two brothers. Until about 1798, James Barnes worked as a tenant farmer as he does not appear as a property owner until in the 1800 Census. However, James Barnes leaves the area in 1804 for Ohio because of the lack of Quaker meeting houses.

Bethesda

Bethesda and Rockville Rank in Top 9% of Small Cities in America, According to Study

By MCS Staff

Published October 5, 2022 at 8:00AM | Updated October 5, 2022 at 8:22AM

With nearly half of the population saying that they’d prefer to live in a suburban area, the personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on 2022’s Best Small Cities in America and two “cities” in MoCo, Bethesda and Rockville, are in the top 9% of over 1,300 cities/areas.

“To help Americans put down roots in places offering good quality of life and affordability, WalletHub compared more than 1,300 U.S. cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 across 43 key indicators of livability. They range from housing costs and school-system quality to restaurants per capita and the crime rate.” Below you’ll see some of the statistics for Bethesda (93rd percentile) and Rockville (91st percentile):

Events

Montgomery Parks Commemorates Brookside Nature Center’s 60th Anniversary on October 9, 2022

By MCS Staff

Published October 5, 2022 at 7:42AM

Montgomery Parks will celebrate 60 years of Brookside Nature Center with a slate of free programs and activities from 1-7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. Montgomery County’s first nature center has been a staple in the community, educating the public as well as introducing people to environmental stewardship.The lineup of free activities is listed below:

Please note that parking at Brookside Nature Center is limited.

Damascus

“Leech Woods” Haunted Trail Opens in Damascus

By MCS Staff

Published October 4, 2022 at 4:45PM

Leech Woods, a brand new haunted trail, is now open at 11201 Bethesda Church Rd in Damascus. It’s described as “a thirty minute immersive haunted trail experience of dark terror” that promises a night of chain saws, clowns and dark corners. Leech Woods also offers food and drink, four bonfires, axe throwing, a DJ booth, fortune telling, and other forms of entertainment each night.

Per Leech Woods: According to Montgomery County historical land records, the present site of Leech Woods was originally settled by Warwick and Jeanne Leech and their six children sometime in early 1790. Having immigrated from Hungary, the family chose Damascus, Maryland based on its temperate climate and heavily wooded region which reminded them of their homeland. The Leech family store thrived as the leading local merchant of hides, furs and hunting supplies. During the disastrous Winter of 1804, the Leech family store was robbed and vandalized by unknown attackers and the body of John Leech, the youngest son, was found nailed to the back wall of the store. The remaining bodies of the family members were later found bludgeoned and bound inside of the root cellar of their homestead. No further information about the attackers or motives for the killings are known.

MCFRS

Traffic Incident Closes Beall Ave in Rockville; Significant Delays Expected

By MCS Staff

Published October 4, 2022 at 8:23AM

Per Montgomery County Police: Beall Avenue is closed in both directions, between Upton Street and N. Van Buren Street, as the result of a traffic collision. Drivers are advised to seek an alternate route. Expect significant delays.

Rockville Police: 10/4/22 – 7:45 a.m.: Due to a traffic incident, police activity has closed Beall Ave at N. Van Buren St and Forest Ave. Seek alternative routes.

MoCo

Founder of The MoCoShow to Be Celebrated as Montgomery County’s ‘Peacemaker of the Year’ at CRCMC’s 2022 Peace Maker Gala Event on October 10

By MCS Staff

Published October 4, 2022 at 6:55AM

Alex Tsironis, founder of The MoCoShow and MCPS Teacher for the last 16 years, will be celebrated by the Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County (CRCMC) at the 2022 Peace Maker Gala as ‘Peacemaker of The Year.’ The Gala and golf tournament will take place at Top Golf, Germantown on Monday, October 10th at 4:00 PM (EDT). Tickets for the Gala and Top Golf tournament are available here.

“We are happy to be holding this year’s annual Peacemaker Gala Celebration at the Top Golf of Germantown! Every year we honor the Peacemaker of the Year, the Volunteer of the Year, and the Executive Director’s Awardee during our largest fundraising event! This year, we will be hosting a golf tournament, followed by an award ceremony in a night of fun and celebration.

Fairland

MCPD Responds to Call for Shots Fired; Asks For Residents in the 14000 Block of Castle Blvd and ALL of Castle Ridge Circle to Shelter in Place

By MCS Staff

Published October 4, 2022 at 6:02AM | Updated October 4, 2022 at 11:41AM

Update: Montgomery County Police announced at 9:28am that barricade situation on Castle Boulevard has been safely resolved. The adult male is in custody and the shelter in place has been lifted.

Montgomery County Police (5:46am): MCPD is asking for residents in the 14000 block of Castle Boulevard and all of Castle Ridge Cir. to shelter in place.

Aspen Hill

Montgomery Parks presents “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”

By MCS Staff

Published October 4, 2022 at 5:45AM

Montgomery Parks will host a screening of the 1970s camp cult classic, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” on Friday, October 7, 2022, at Northwest Branch Recreational Park from 6 to 9:30 p.m.

“Montgomery Parks is excited to be bringing the screening for all Rocky generations to enjoy. This will be a fun and memorable introduction to the phenomenon that is Rocky Horror for those that have yet to experience it,” said Jordan Crumback, Parks activation specialist. The audience can begin arriving at 6 p.m. with blankets and chairs to get a spot on the lawn. Food and beer concessions will be available for purchase from Liquidity Aleworks, Catalyst Hot Dogs and O’Boy Pizza & Ice Cream before and during the show.

Crime

Rockville Police Respond to Report of Attempted Carjacking; Two in Custody

By MCS Staff

Published October 3, 2022 at 8:06PM

On 10/3/22 at 11:55 a.m. Rockville City Police responded to the area of E. Middle Lane and Helen Heneghan Way for the report of an attempted carjacking.

Officers met with witnesses who stated they heard a woman screaming and observed three males assaulting a female in the parking garage in the 300 block of Hungerford Drive. The witness attempted to intervene when one of the subjects pointed a handgun and fled on foot. The female victim advised officers that while parking her vehicle, the three men approached her, demanded her keys, and when she refused, they physically assaulted her.